Rollover accidents are not that common, but they are among the deadliest types of crashes when the roof of the vehicle caves in. As a result, the NHSTA is proposing new rules for increased safety. Now, a roof has to withstand an applied force of one-and-a-half times the weight of the vehicle. The proposal increases that to two-and-a-half times. Critics, however, say most vehicles already meet this level of safety, and it’s still not enough. Volvo made its XC90 roof to withstand more than three times the weight of the vehicle and is put through actual rollover testing. Meanwhile, the NHSTA says it cannot hold convertibles, including retractable hardtops, to the same roof-crush requirements as vehicles with fixed roofs. The agency also has decided against convertible-specific rollover rules, such as requiring fixed or deployable roll bars. Convertibles without any roll bars include the Toyota Solara, Chrysler Sebring, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac Solstice and Lexus SC 430.
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